Rotary dispensing bin



Jan. 17, 1928. l 656 444 R.M0RR1S ROTARY DI SPENSING BIN Filed Jan. 19, 1927 2', INVENTOR l A TORNEY Patented Jan. 17, 1928.

UNITED STATES 13,0515` MORRIS, OFZILLAH, WASHINGTN.'

ROTARY DISPENSING BIN.

Application led January 19, 1927. Serial No. 162,018.

This invention relates to a rotary 'bin from which articles such as apples or the like are dispensed to an operator for packing the same in boxes. Y

The object of the invention, generally, is

The invention further consists in the pro? vision of improved means for automatically delivering articles, such as apples for example, into the bin in a manner to obviate any liability of injuring the articlesby bruising or otherwise.

The invention further consists in the novel construction, adaptation and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing,- v

Fi ure 1 is a planfview of devices embodying t e present invention; Fig. 2 isa transverse vertical section, to an enlarged scale, taken substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a view partly in plan and partly in horizontal `section of portions of the feeding appliances illustrated in the preceding views. l v

In said drawing, the reference numeral 5 represents the base member of astand having rigidly secured thereto a vertical column 6. Mounted to rotate upon said column is a frame 7, herein shown as consisting of two horizontal bar` members 7 secured in rectangular relation with each other to the upper end of a sleeve 1() through which said column extends. f y i Secured to and extending upwardly .from the ends of said frame membersare vertical post .elements` 8 which support an annular casing 9 concentrically of the column 6. Q

Rotatable upon the column above said frame is a sleevell constituting the hub of a circular tray having a floor 12 and, preferably, a peripheral wall 13. Y

Thistray is ofless diameter than the 1nternal diameter of the casing 9, permittingl links 14 depending from the tray and connected to` arms 15 of levers which are fulcrumed at 17 to bars 18 which aresecured to one of the frame members 71 at opposite sides of the column.V Such connectionalso affords vertical movement to the tray and, by the provision of springs 19, the tray is yieldingly supported for vertical movement.

As shown, one end vof each spring is connected to an arm 2() of the respectivelever, and the other end is connected to an attachment 21 ofthe frame. `The tray supporting connections above described are disposedadvantageously in pairs at op osite sides of the respective arms of one of` t ie frame meinbers. VWhen the tray is without a load the power of said springs suiiice to retain the tray to have its hub 11 engage against a stop collar 22 provided upon the column 6.

The sto collar may be secured to the post at a heir t to regulate the extent of elevation of the tray to accommodate operators of different stature. y

When the tray is supplied with apples or other articles, the weight, of the same will act to depress the tray so that the upper surfaceof the load will at all times be at t-he same elevation, oi nearly so, responsive to the weight ofthe load. y The power of each of the s rings suitable to its duty may be regulate by means of a nut 23 taking screw threads provided on an end of a s ring and bearing against the undersides of t e respective attachment 21 or by engaging the springsin` selected series spaced apart of apertures provided in the arms 20. i

Theiframe andthe tray which is su ported thereby are arranged to be rotated in unison as by means Voft-a worin gear 25 secured to the sleeve member 110i the rotary frame and a worm 26 which is. mounted upon a power driven shaft 27.` i y i Included in the invention is a feedin means comprising a trough 30 extending from a sorting table or` other source of supply (not shown). Operating in said `trough is a power driven conveyor-belt 31 which passes around an idler pulley 32 at the discharge end of the trough. `Secured to said trough and protruding beyond its discharge end are bracket pieces 33 which serve to support bearing boxes 84 in which is journaled a transversely arranged shaft 35. Said bearing boxes are rigidly secured to the sides of a delivery trough 36 in which operates an endless conveyor-belt 37 which passesabout a driving pulley 38 rigidly mounted upon the shaft 35 and also about an idler pulley 39 whichA is mounted upon a shaft or axle at the discharge end of the delivery trough.

As shown, the belt 37 of the delivery trough is driven through the medium of an endless chain 40 passing about sprocket wheels Ll1 and 42 which are mounted respectively upon the shafts of the pulleys 32 and 38 of the respective conveyor belts.

43 represents a Weight secured to an arm 44 extending from one of the bearing boxes 34, said Weight functioning to counter balance, in part, the Weight of the discharge end of the delivery trough.

Said delivery trough extends, as shown, somewhat tangentially into the space enclosed by the casing 9 for delivering articles into the latter above the tray.

In operation, the discharge end of the delivery trough 36 assumes a position at or slightly above the floor oi' the tray, and as the articles accumulate thereon to various depths the articles in their revoluble travel upon the trough engage the sloping under surface of the trough to effect the gradual elevation of its delivery end so as to obviate any considerable Iamount of fall'to the apples being discharged 'from the trough.

The invention is particularly adapted for use in supplying apples to a person for packing them into boxes because the tray rising and descending responsive to the Weight ot' the apples, and also because it revolubly carries the apples Within convenient reach of the operator to enable him to readily make selections of apples as to size, shape or color Without unduly extending his reach.

While I have described the invention in its form now preferred by me, I do not wish to confine myself specifically thereto except as limited by the scope of the appended claims.

lVhat I claim, is,-

l. The combination of a tray arranged to rotate about a vertical axis, an annular wall surrounding said tray and disposed concentrically with respect to said axis, spring controlled means supporting the tray for axial movement, and means for rotating said Wall and the tray in unison.

2. The combination of a tra-y arranged for vertical and rota-ry movements, an annular Wall surrounding the tray, said Wall and tray being connected with each other for conjoint rotary movement and permitting vertical movement of the tray With respect to the wall, resilient means supporting said tray, and means for feeding articles Within the space enclosed by said Wall and above the tray. Y

3. A tray, an annular Wall surrounding the tray, said tray and wall being arranged for unitary rotary movement about a vertical axis, and resilient means supporting the tray, said means being yieldable to a load deposited upon the tray and adapted to support the latter at elevations in inverse proportion to the weight of said load.

el. `The combination of a tray having a peripheral Wall element, means for rotating said tray about a vertical axis, vertically yieldable means for supporting the tray, and

means to deposit articles upon said tray, thev last named means comprising a trough containing conveying devices, said trough having a vertically movable member extending above the tray.

5. The combination of a'base member, a frame mounted above the same for rotary movement upon said base member, an annular casing supported by said frame at a definite elevation, a tray supported by said iframe for relative vertical movement within said casing, tweeen the frame and the tray and tending to yieldably retain the latter in its most ele vated position, and meansV for driving the trame to impart coincident rotary movement to both the casing and the tray.

(5. The combination of a base member, a vertical column rigid with said base member, a trame mounted for rotary movement upon said column, a tray connected for rotary movement to said column, devices coupling said tray with the trame for conjoint rotary' movement, springs cooperating with said def vices and permitting vertical movement to the tray with respect to said frame, andv means for driving the frame to rotate the tray. f

y7. The combination of a circular table having a peripheral Wall and constituting there with a tray, yieldable means including a.

spring for 'supporting the tray, means for rotating the tray, and means for depositing,V

Ross Mouais.

resilient means interposed be-V lll() 

